Charity stunt is 'plane' sailing for 79-year-old Malcolm

A 79-year-old daredevil from Bury St Edmunds took to the sky at the weekend for a sponsored wing-walk in aid of a charity close to his heart.

Malcolm Sykes, of Oliver Road, travelled to Breighton Aerodrom, near Selby in North Yorkshire, on Sunday to carry out the stunt, which saw him strapped to the top of a World War One biplane for around 10 minutes.

“I was anxious beforehand but after the first couple of minutes in the air, I began to thoroughly enjoy it,” he said.

“I’ve never done anything like it before but it was the best feeling I’ve had in a long long time.”

The event was in aid of St Nicholas Hospice Care, which provided care and support to Malcolm’s wife Wendy shortly before she died of bone cancer in 2004.

Malcolm also chose to brave the flight in North Yorkshire as it was Wendy’s home county.

“Wendy would say I was daft for doing it but I wanted to do something to thank the hospice for the care they showed to her,” he said.

Malcolm’s three children, Dean, Jo and Hayley, also made the journey to watch their dad in action and cheer him on.